It was bound to happen eventually. Calgary’s first sub .500 seven-game segment of the season.

Although the Flames managed just three wins over this stretch, the segment really only featured one true stinker — the 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues before the Christmas break. The extra time losses to Tampa Bay and Vancouver were games the Flames could have won on other nights, while the loss in Boston was mostly due to a tough schedule and lacklustre goaltending.

Nevertheless, some of the weakness we’ve noted previously were evident in the segment, while some other concerns emerged. The Flames are still overly reliant on their top end for goal and shot creation and their special teams have sunk into middling territory. In addition, some of their more reliable players had their worst stretches of the season.

The Flames remain at the top of the Pacific and the Western Conference, but if they want to stick around as a true contender heading into...